Apple, Google Lose Multibillion Dollar Court Fights With EU
In September 2024, Apple and Google both lost major legal battles with the European Union (EU), resulting in multibillion-dollar penalties. Apple’s case revolved around a €13 billion ($14.4 billion) tax bill linked to an agreement with Ireland, which the EU classified as illegal state aid. After multiple appeals, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled against Apple, requiring the company to repay the sum.
Apple argued that this decision retroactively changed the rules regarding how its taxes were to be paid, contending that it had already fulfilled its tax obligations in the United States.
Google, meanwhile, faced a €2.4 billion fine for unfairly favoring its Google Shopping service over rivals in search results. The European Commission initially imposed this fine in 2017, and Google has since appealed, only to lose at the CJEU. This ruling has broader implications, as it supports the EU’s continued push to regulate tech giants under competition law and the Digital Markets Act. Both companies’ losses reflect a growing determination in Europe to hold Big Tech accountable for monopolistic practices.
These decisions mark significant victories for the EU in its ongoing battle to enforce antitrust laws, signaling that global tech giants will face increased regulatory scrutiny in the future.
